THE Kings and Queens of this Land enjoy a considerable Revenue, coming in from the Merchants for all their Commodities: It is called the Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage: and is commonly granted them for Life by Act of Parliament. This, in the Reign of King James I. amounted but to a small Matter in comparison of what it doth at present. Sir Edward Coke, who was then a Commissioner of the Treasury, writes, that these Subsidies amounted to 16000l. per Ann. and so were letten to Farm. The Values of the Merchandizes for which the Poundage is paid, do appear in a Book of Rates in Print: Whereby the Merchant knoweth what he is to pay. The Subsidy of Tonnage of Wine is certain in these Acts of Parliament by the Contents of the Vessels. And none of these Acts do extend to any other Liquid Merchandize imported or exported, but unto Wines only.

The Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage is ever expressed in the Grant, to be for the keeping and safeguard of the Seas, for the Intercourse of Merchandize safely to come into this Realm, and safely to pass out of the same. And this pertains properly to the Office of the Lord Admiral, to see the Consideration of this Act performed.

About four hundred Years ago and upwards, Gregory de Rokesley, and Henry de Walleis, or Galeis who were Maiors for many Years, were great and chief Merchants of London. These and the other Merchants of those Times, used to hire Ships for their use, from the Barons of the Cinque Ports, and from the Islands belonging to England, that lye against Normandy. Now there happened a Contest between the Merchants and the Owners, and Mariners that imported their Effects; as to satisfaction for Goods thrown overboard in a Storm. The Cause we meet with in some of the Records of the Chamber, which was this:

The Barons of the Five Ports of the Lord the King; and in like manner the Mariners of Guernsey and Sark, and others of the Kingdom of England, complained to the King [Edward I.] that when it hath happened, that any of them hired out their Ship to carry, from the Parts beyond Sea, Wines and other Merchandizes, towards England, Gascoign or Wales: and those that are in the Ship must, by reason of some Tempest of the Sea, for saving the Ship, cast overboard, sometimes ten Hogsheads, twenty, thirty, sometime forty more or less; it hath been accustomed time out of Mind, and granted to the same Barons; that the Ship in which such Wines or other Wares have been, with all their Utensils, ought to be quit of making or providing any manner of aid, to make good the loss by the said casting overboard; but only that the Mariner lose his Fraught of the Hogsheads and Wares so thrown into the Sea.

But Greogry de Rokesley, Henry de Galeis, or Walleis, and other the King's Merchants, as well of England, Gascoin, as of Ireland, of the King's Dominions, did compel the foresaid Barons of the Five Ports, and the other Mariners of the Kingdom of England, to apprize their Ships, with all the Utensils and Rigging belonging to those Ships, together with the Wines and other Goods being in the Ships, to acquit and make good the Wines and Goods so cast out into the Sea, according to their Will; to the most heavy loss and impoverishing of the Barons and Mariners, against the Liberties granted to them.

This matter was tryed and heard before the King and his Counsil: who granted, and for the future adjudged, First, the Ship in which the Wares and Wines were, with the whole Furniture, the Master of the Ship's Ring, worn upon his Finger, the Victuals of the Mariners, the Utensils used to dress their Dinners, the Necklace, the Girdle, the Silver Cup of the Master of the Ship wherein he drinketh (if he have any) shall be quit of making reparation for the aforesaid casting overboard. And also the Fraughts of the Wines, and the other Goods being in the Ships which are saved, shall be safe to the Mariners. And the Master of the Ship shall lose his Fraught of the Hogsheads or Goods thrown into the Sea. And all other Goods being in the Ship, as well of the Mariners as of the Merchants, as Wines, Merchandizes, Pence in Gross, and other Goods, except the foresaid, and the Fraught of the Goods which shall be saved, for the time to come, ought to be applyed to afford aid to acquit Goods and Wines so cast into the Sea out of the Ship, by reason of the Tempest.

At this discourse of Merchandize, it may be very fit and useful to subjoin two necessary Tables relating thereunto; concerning the Duties Strangers are to pay to the City at the King's Beam, for weighing of Goods; and the Customs for divers Wares and Commodities, brought by Traders into the City, called Toll, and Duty of Water-Bailage. A Table whereof was ordered to be published by Sir Thomas Stamp, Maior. Which are as follow:

The Rates of the Iron Beams at the Water-side, called the King's Beams, according to the Books of Guild-Hall. Confirmed by Act of Common Council, for the Weighing of all Strangers and Foreigners Goods which shall come, or be brought into the City of London, or within the Liberties or Circuit thereof, and allowed by Consent of his Majesties most Honourable Council in the Star-Chamber at Westminster, the 28th of June, in the Year of our Lord God, One Thousand Five Hundred Twenty and One, in the 13th Year of his Majesties Reign, &c. viz.

THE Tun of Iron, Twenty Pence.

Frying-Pans, Dripping-Pans and Kettle-Bands, three hundred and under the Draught, and not above, Six Pence.

Gunstones to be weighed, three hundred and not above the Draught, Six Pence.

Ivory and Whetstones to be weighed, three hundred and not above the Draught, Six Pence.

Hops to be weighed by the Beam, four hun-